8.13.16

 

 

 

Devotional for Saturday, August 13, 2016
“The Discouraged Heart Can Be Lifted Up!”

 

 

discouragement

by Dona Hake

 

It is when we are full of God’s courage that we feel we are able to accomplish anything with His help.  The opposite of courage is discouragement.  Discouragement has the power to paralyze someone from moving forward.  It has the power the keep us unmotivated to move forward and tempt us to  wallow in the past.  Today we will look at how we must guard our hearts against discouragement.

 

Abraham Lincoln wisely said,

 

“Let no feeling of discouragement
prey upon you, and in the end
you are sure to succeed.”  
 
 

 

Courage is that thing that empowers us to do what we may be afraid of.  It helps us go forward into things we  thought was too big for us to handle.   Let us with determined hearts to never  allow discouragement to prey upon our hearts.
 
 

 

Many times discouragement will be birthed as a result of being preoccupied with cares in our life.  We are commanded to cast all our care over to God.   As the scripture says below, we need to keep our minds clear and alert because the devil is watching for those opportunities to pull you down.
 
 

 

1 Peter 5:7-9
Names of God Bible
“Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.  Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering.”
 
 

 

If your heart is in a place of discouragement, I want to encourage you today to look up and know that He is well able to pull you out of that place and bring courage back to your heart.  Release your care and hold fast to His loving hands and you will be made courageous!



8.12.16

 

 

 

Devotional for Friday, August 12,2016
“All Things Working Together For Us”
 

all things work for good

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

Romans 8:28 (VOICE)
“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to

work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.”

 

As we believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ He invites us to live according to His plan for our lives.  When we lay down our own ways and thoughts about things, that is when God is able to work us through the good and the bad.   There are four words to this scripture though that are the key and the secret to God working freely in our lives.  Those words are “when we love Him.”  As we love the Lord with all of our heart and soul, it is then that He is able to orchestrate everything in our lives to work for the good!

 

 

Loving God should be our lifestyle.  As a believer, loving Him should come as natural as breathing to us.  We should not have to think about it for the more we know Him and His ways, we should be overwhelmed at His love for us.  Loving Him should be a part of every detail of our lives.  Looking to Him should not just be when we are in trouble but we need to be looking to Him when every thing is perfect as well.  It is as we have a burning love within our hearts for Him that we will see how He will beautifully weave a tapestry of many wondrous things in your life.  God desires that His love be shown to a dark world.  As we love Him and walk in His presence, His joy will overflow for all to see.

 

“A joyful heart is the inevitable result

of a heart burning with love.

Mother Teresa 
 
Lord, we ask that you deepen our revelation of loving You with all of our heart.    As our heart burns for You, we thank You that are are able to work on our behalf and cause all things to work together for Your plans and purposes! Amen


8.11.16

 

 

 

Devotional for Thursday, August 11, 2016
“Storing God’s Word In Our Hearts”

 

hide gods word in your heart

by Dona Hake
 

 

In this day and age of computers we are all quite aware of the importance of knowing that everything we treasure on our computers should be backed up. This was especially an important thing for me to do for when I did wedding photography.  For me to know that I had captured a day that was a once in a lifetime event, I had to  be diligent with the care of my client’s work.     Backing up my work assured me that  if anything were to happen to my computer, all my work was protected.  It always gave me great peace of mind because I knew that I have done what I knew to do to protect myself from such a dreadful loss.    I have heard people say how they were heartbroken knowing their computer crashed and they lost everything.  All their precious memories were gone and never to be retrieved.
 
 

 

Today I just want to impress upon you to make sure you are building and strengthening your heart with God’s Word.     As we fill ourselves with God’s Word, it is preparing us with the strength and wisdom we need as we face the demands of the day.   Life can drain us of our strength yet if we are keeping ourselves full of His Word, we can rest assured that our hearts are protected and ready to stand.  Are you storing God’s Word in your heart?  

 

 

 

God promises us that as we are faithful to keep His Word that He will always back us up no matter what situations we face.  As we are diligent to  put His Word  into our hearts, we are making deposits of great value.  We are accumulating a treasure within us.  This treasure cannot be compared to any wealth on this earth.  Nothing or no one can take it from you for it is hidden deep within you.  You can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if a situation arises that you are well prepared.  You are prepared to stand against any temptation that would tempt you to  leave down your guard and sin.

 

Psalm 119:11 (TLB) 
“I have thought much about your words and stored

them in my heart so that they would

hold me back from sin.”

 

I encourage you to value His Word and deposit into your heart for it is then that you are truly guarding your heart with all diligence.

 



8.10.16

 

 

 

Devotional for Wednesday, August 10, 2016
“Every One of Our Steps”

 

 

every step

by Dona Hake

 

I truly believe that the believer that has submitted their will to the Lord, and has made a decision to obey Him can truly know that He will direct his paths.   Jesus has promised to never leave nor forsake us.  He has promised to lead, guide us and direct us with His wisdom at every turn. I am sure you can identify those times where things seemed a bit hard to understand.  Maybe things were unfolding totally differently than how you thought it was supposed to happen.  On top of it all, it is making you feel a bit uneasy because you you feel like you are hanging out on a limb feeling very unsure.
 
 

This proverb counsels us not to worry if we do not totally understand everything as it happens.  Instead, let us take heart and fear not for God is on our side and He will cause us to rise victoriously and cross the finish line.

 
 
Proverbs 20:24 (VOICE)
“Every one of our steps is directed by Him;
so how can we attempt to figure out our own way?”
 

 

 

This scripture exhorts our heart to be reminded to never try to figure things out too far ahead for we do not know all that God has in store for us in our journey.  It causes us also to be mindful that we should be casting all our care upon Him because as He cares for us, all will be well with our soul as He works His beautiful plan in our life.

 



8.9.16

 

 

 

 

Devotional for Tuesday, August 9, 2016
“But a Word of Encouragement…”
 

lifting hearts

by Dona Hake

 

Proverbs 12:25
“Anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word

of encouragement does wonders!”

 

Today I want to encourage you to seek opportunities to lift up hearts that may be heavy.  As we ask the Lord for such opportunities He is sure to bring them in our path.  We live in a time where it is plain to see that many have anxious and heavy hearts.  I love those God given opportunities when I can lock my eyes with someone that looks grumpy or depressed, and try to get them talking.   People like this need our loving smiles and encouraging words.

 

The Lord lifts us up and faithfully ministers His strength to us.  Day by day He pours forth an abundant supply of joy and strength for our day.  Let us be ready to give it to those around us as He provides us opportunities.  God wants us to be givers not hoarders of all the blessings He has imparted to us.

 

Proverbs 11:24
Living Bible
“It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself.”



8.8.16

Devotional for Monday, August 8, 2016
“Are You Fully Charged Today?”

  given us all we need

 

by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
 I remember when I heard what the meaning of a parable was.   Jesus spoke many times in His teachings using parables to bring truths to His hearers.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.   Many times we can experience trials or experiences in our day and after we walk through them we may find a spiritual teaching in them.   I can remember once  someone asking me at the last minute to grab my camera and bring it to where I was going to get some shots. At the last moment before I left, I threw the camera over my shoulder and out the door I went. As I was driving down the road it dawned on me that more than likely my battery was low. Sure enough when I check it’s level, it was blinking and this was not good. I turned around and went back and grabbed one of my back up batteries. Thank God for back up! Normally with client shoots I have all batteries full and extra of everything. My point in this story is that I was caught off guard.  Yes, this is an earthly story with a spiritual truth that I learned from.
 
 
 
 
Life can bring us situations that just catch us off guard and we may have no time to do anything about them. I had noticed for a while that my battery was blinking low but I just ignored it and the thought was….just charge it later. Well, “later” did not happen and had I not realized it I would not have been able to get the shots this individual wanted me to get. You see, my lithium battery is well capable of shooting for hours on end IF it is fully charged. There was not a thing wrong with the battery. The thing that went wrong was that I failed to be attentive to it’s warning and do what needed to be done. I failed to maintain such a small but most vital part of my camera.
 
 
 
 
We too are like ”spiritual batteries” that need charged and watched over. We need our time with God and the infusion of His strength and guidance each day. We cannot try to thrive on what was yesterday’s faith. We cannot fool ourselves and think we are going to get away with ignoring the warning signals that come with being weary and worn down. We must keep ourselves full that we can do all that He has for us to do. I leave you with this scripture that is a wonderful one to reflect upon.
 

 

2 Peter 1:3 The Voice translation
“His divine power has given us everything we need to experience life and to reflect God’s true nature through the knowledge of the One who called us by His glory and virtue.”

 

Draw upon that power and all that He has so graciously given you to live your day!



8.7.16

 

 

 
Devotional for Sunday, August 7, 2016
“Be Still”

 

Be still and KNOW that He is God Jan 2014
 
 

by Dona Hake

 

 Sometimes life can become so hectic that we lose our awareness that are souls are no longer quiet before Him.   I think we need to be cautious and over how busy we permit out lives to become, and daily seek His wisdom over the planning of our days.    How can we expect to hear His still small voice if we plan our days in such a way that we cannot pause and fellowship with Him.  If we are not careful we could miss His gentle voice that so desires to fellowship with us and give us the direction that we need.   Let us read this portion of scripture from 1Kings 19:11-12, and ponder what it says.
 
 

 

1 Kings 19:11-12  (AMP)
 
” And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.”
 
 

 

Elijah knew that the sound of a gentle whisper was God’s voice.  He understood that God did not just reveal Himself in the big and the powerful, but in the sound of stillness.   The Lord is often found in the gentle whisper in the quietness of a meek spirit.   It is there that He is able to whisper  the secrets of His perfect will and purposes for our life.

 

Today let us purpose in knowing that our hearts are quieted before Him.  I believe even in the midst of the demands of our lives that we can maintain our hearts and keep them at peace that we can hear His voice no matter what is going on around us.

 

“Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper  of God.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson



8.6.16

 

 

 

Devotional for Saturday, July 6, 2016
“The Lord, Our Rock and Redeemer!”

 

 

rock and redeemer

by Dona Hake
 
 

 

Let us declare today that the Lord IS our  Rock and our Redeemer! As Redeemer, Jesus restored us back to fellowship with the Living God of this Universe! We can be cleansed of any sin, and we no longer need to live in guilt of past or present mistakes. At any given time in our day we are free to run to Him for the forgiveness and help that we need.

 

As we look to Him as our Rock, we no longer stand in places that shake or can be moved but we can stand on that which brings us strength and security. I loved the one definition of rock that I found.  It said to be lulled in security and hope.  When one is lulled they are soothed and quieted.  I could not help but to think of times when my sons were little, and they would come and just be comforted as I held them tightly and prayed over them.  We too can run to Him in those times that we are shaken and our soul will be quieted.     As we sit as His feet we can be assured that He will calm us from our anxieties and strengthen the faith in our heart.

 

Psalm 37:7

Amplified Bible

“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him…”



8.4.16

 

 

Devotional for Thursday, August 4, 2016

“We Were Chosen For a Purpose”

 

chosen for a purpose

by Dona Hake

   To know that there are no two fingerprints alike seems to be impossible yet that shows what an amazing God that we serve!  Oh that we would reflect on how special we are to Him.   He made us each uniquely and for a specific plan and purpose for such a time as this!   It seems that our culture is constantly dictating what is and is not success and it almost seems impossible to get away from it.     The voice of this world is constantly whispering in our ear to conform to it’s standards.  If you do not know who you are in Christ, this voice will tug and pull at your heart.

 

There may have been times you have wondered why you are here.   Know that He has things for you to do, places for you to go and purposes to accomplish.  Along with this thought you can absolutely be assured that as you give Him your life, He is going to work all His plans out in His way and His timing.

 

Psalm 138:8 (ESV)
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever…”

 

As we look for the Lord to work through us in unique and wonderful ways, let us be reminded that we are required to surrender our life wholly to Him everyday of our lives.  We must give up doing things the way we think they need to be done and seek how He desires to work in you.

 

“Surrendering to the Lord is not a tremendous

sacrifice, not an agonized performance.

It is the most sensible thing you can do.”

Corrie ten Boom

 



8.3.16

Devotional for Wednesday, August 3, 2016
“He Gives Sound Judgement”
 

Praying Child Christian Stock Photo

by Dona Hake

 

Psalm 111:10

“To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.”

 
 
In Proverbs 3:5-6 this Word admonishes us to trust in Him and lean NOT on our own understanding.  This is so hard to do at times.  We live in an age where information is so easy to get our hands on.  Any information that we need is at our finger tips as we google in our questions and problems on our computers.  Quite honestly, I have found the more I know about things sometimes it can actually hinder my faith.  The tendency to trust in what man says above what God says about a particular thing can keep us from totally trusting in Him.
 

 

Leaning on God for all that we need is so vital.  Sometimes we want so badly to understand things that we are walking through and there are times we put too much focus on figuring things out.  I have found that simply obeying Him and knowing that I can trust Him to be in charge of my life keeps it simple enough.  We must remind ourselves that our peace cannot come from merely understanding something inside and out.    It is in the realm of faith that much is happening by the hand of our Lord and it is beyond our understanding.

 
 

I can remember when one of our sons was a little boy.  There was a particular time he was having a very hard time trusting my judgement on a particular thing.  I can remember sharing with him that he just needed to respect my judgement and not try to figure it out.  I began to share with him that there will times in life that we will face things that we do not understand.  I was stressing to him to trust me as a loving mother and authority in his life.  He received that instruction with a humble heart and learned from that.  

 

As we entrust our lives into the loving care of the Lord, He will in His timing give us understanding and we will learn and grow from situations that we walk through.   We just need to trust and obey.  God is good all the time…ALL THE TIME God IS good!




6 Responses to “Devotional”

  1. Lisa Viands says:

    This is a good way of teaching the kids to forgive each other(Matt. 5:7). I like the power of this gentle scripture and lesson… Thanks!!

  2. Selena Neely says:

    Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.

  3. Selena Neely says:

    Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.

  4. Dona Hake says:

    It is interesting Selena how the more we worry the bigger and more magnified things get in our minds. Oh how important it is to trust our God for the smallest of things! Thank you for sharing!